Footrest



Feb' 8, 1944- v ou. s. BURKILDll-:R 2,341,080

FOOT REST I Filed June 14, 1941 OSCAR 5. BuRKHoLDs/i ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1944 rg f. 1

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,341,081)` l FooTnEsT scar Smedley Burkholder, Oakland, Calif. Application June 14, 1941,v Serial No. 398,091 l 3 Claims. (Cl. 155-169) The invention relates to a foot rest for use; by an occupant of a-seat, and the present application includes the disclosureof my application Serf. No. 361,395 filed October l'6, 1940, for an Automobile foot board.

A primary object is to provide a foot rest-for promoting the'comfort Vof short-legged persons occupying seats in vehicles, restaurants, theatres, homes, etc. wherethe usual seat height is appropriate only for adults of average height. v

Another object is to provide a foot rest of the ycharacter described having a heel stop forengagement by the heels of a users shoes to prevent a forward movement of the feet upon thefoot rest and so provide for a holding kof the persons body against its forward movement on the lseat with which the foot rest is being associatively used.

A further object is to provide a foot rest of the type described which may be retained in set position without being. attached to a seat or to the floor adjacent the seat.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent lin the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing a foot rest embodying the features of my invention in use adjacent a fixed seat of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a right-side and rear perspective view of the foot rest.

Figure 3 is a left-side view of the foot rest.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken ina horizontal plane at the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

While of use elsewhere, the present foot rest unit 6 is particularly shown as in use by anvoccupant of a seat which is low enough to require a forward disposal of an adult occupants et for resting on thefloor in front of the seat. YSeats of the present type are commonly provided inf automobiles and other vehicles, and the present seat 'l is shown as comprising a front seat of; a diaand front perspective .grammatically indicated automobile body 8 proangle bending of the legs fat the knee. By the use of the present foot rest 6, the equivalent of a foot board is provided for .short-legged persons in the seat 1, or for the occupants of any seats not having foot boards associated with them.v

As shown, the present foot rest lprovides a stepped top I2 sloping upwardly from its rear edge and having rear and front portions I3 `and I4 connected by a riser portion I5 in a substantially rigid structure, the top portions I3 and I4 being generally parallel. 'Ihe top I2 comprises an intermediate portion of a plate element which has integral front and rear portions i6 and I'I thereof turned downwardly for use as legs in supporting the top in sloping relation to the supporting floor; this element may be of metal or ,other generally rigid material which is formable to the disclosed shape, as by bending a blank of the material in sheet form or forming the material in a casting mold or die.l The upper faces of the parts I3 and I4 may be provided with a suitable soft surfacecovering I8; as indicated, the cover I8 may comprise a facing of a cellulosic nap directly adherentto the top faces of the rest plate.

The plate portion I6 mounts feet I9 of rubber or the like at its lower edge for frictionally engaging the oor 9. The rear plate portion I1, if of appropriate length, may also carry fioorengaging friction feet I9. The disclosed feet I9 have disc-shaped lower floor-engaging portions from which generally conical stem-like portions extend axially, the latter portions being shown as diametrically and axially slotted to closely receive the lower edges of the plate portions I6 or I I for mounting the feet thereon.

To best meet the varying conditions caused by different seat heights and/or the size of the seat occupant, means are preferably provided for adjusting the angularity of the foot rest top to the supporting floor. As shown, a member 2l telescopically engages the front portion I 6 in adjustable relation thereto as an extension thereof whereby the height of the rest may be adjusted at its front. The member 2| mounts oor-engaging feet I9 at its lower edge, a spring-pressed pin 22 mounted on the member may selectively engage holes 23 of a line thereof provided in the portion I6 for securing the member and portion in adjusted relation; it will be understood that the member 2l and portion IB jointly provide, and function as, a leg of adjustable length.

The angularity of the foot rest portions I Ii and I 'I to the top portions I3 and I5 respectively is preferably such that these parts are generally place his feet upon the foot rest top with theai fronts of his shoe heels engaging the riser I5 as a stop to secure the feet against sliding forwardly on the rest; this is an virrlportant feature'y for vehicles, since a sudden slowing down or stopping of a vehicle tends to move the occupants of its seats forwardly, and the heel stop*y provided may be utilized to resist the movement which is urged. An-appropriate inclination yadjustment of the sloping top I2` would, of course,

ibe made to best provide for the comfort of the user. The presentfoot rest, being usable without positive attachment to a floor or seat, is adapted for use as a free unit with different seats and by different persons at appropriate distances from the seats.

I2 and the portions IB and I'I are imperforate,

the escape of heated air from beneath the top I2 is arranged to be entirely lateral of the unit to direct the air away from the body of the person using the rest.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of use --will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

While I have described the features and use of a foot rest which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showing is primarily illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A foot rest unit for disposal on a support surface vand comprising a plate element having an intermediate portion thereof providing the top of the unit and formed with a vertical step thereacross as a heel stop means thereof, opposite end portions of the element being turned down in parallel relation to said step to provide supporti legs Aforthe top, and a leg extension member adjustably engaged with a said leg for varying the effective length thereof to adjustably vary the angularity of the top with respect to the support surface.

2. A foot 'rest unit for disposal -on 'a support surface in front of a seated person and comprising a plate element havin-g an intermediate portion thereof providing the top of the unit;y op'- posite end portions of the element being turned down to provide support legs for the top along the front and rear edges thereof, and a leg extension member adjustably engaged with a said leg for varying the effective length thereof to adjustably vary vthe angularity of the top with respect to the support surface.

3. A foot rest for unattached disposal on a oor for use by a seated person and comprising an inclined top for the simultaneous and independent resting thereon of both of the persons feet flat against its'upper face and intermediately stepped across its width to provide a heel stop across it, support legs extending rigidly from said top for supporting it upon the oor in lines'beneath the front and rear edges vof the top, and means onthe leg'structure adjustableto adjust the relative angularity of the top to the floor..

OSCAR SMEDLEY BURKHOLDER. 

